Mark Hughes believes home wins are an expectation now rather than a hope for Stoke City.
Stoke’s home form is the fourth best in the Premier League, which gives them confidence going in to today’s game.
The Potters face Newcastle United at Britannia Stadium. With Stoke trailing only six points behind Newcastle United, Hughes believes this weekend’s game could be a close call.
Mark Hughes said: “Newcastle will be without some of their key players this weekend and we have to take advantage of that.”
“They have struggled recently, but just like any club, if you take out key personnel it will have an effect on you and Newcastle are not different from us in that regard.
“But that does not suggest for one moment that they don’t still have quality in the final third because they do.
“We will still have to be on top form for the game to make sure we can get maximum points if we can.
“We have got ambitions of our own. We have got real opportunities to leave our mark this season and do things that Stoke City haven’t done before in the Premier League. ”
Stoke have never finished top ten in the Premier League and 8 points from their final 5 games will see their highest ever points tally in one season.
Newcastle United who have lost four of their last matches and currently sit ninth in the table with 46 points, seven points behind fifth placed Everton. Newcastle have only picked up 13 points from 15 matches since they beat the Potters 5-1 in the reverse fixture at St. James’ Park.
Newcastle will be without their top- scorer Loic Remy at today’s Premier League game at Stoke, after he failed to recover from a calf injury. Goal keeper Tim Krul is a doubt, while Moussa Sissoko and Matheui Debuchy are certainly out.
Stoke’s defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last week ended a 5 match unbeaten run so Hughes will be hoping to regain that same form that has put them in such a strong position to end the season well.
See Mark Hughes speaking at the pre-match press conference, below
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